Getting Started
Setting up a Raspberry Pi without a monitor, keyboard, or mouse is way easier than most people think. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to install Raspberry Pi OS Lite, enable SSH, connect to Wi-Fi, boot the Pi, find its IP, and log in from your Mac Terminal.
This is the cleanest way to get a Pi running for web servers, network tools, Pi-hole, automation projects, or anything that doesn’t need a GUI.
What You Need
- Raspberry Pi (any modern model — Pi 4 or 5 recommended)
MicroSD card (16GB or 32GB is perfect)
Card reader
Mac computer
Raspberry Pi Imager
Power cable for the Pi
Optional: Ethernet cable
Affiliate links for the products I used:
Card Reader: https://amzn.to/3LF9aCw
MicroSD: https://amzn.to/4p67zEk
Raspberry Pi 5: https://amzn.to/43tCmmd
1) Download Raspberry PI Imager
The fastest way to install Raspberry Pi OS is with the official Imager tool.
Download Raspberry Pi Imager:
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
Choose macOS and install it.
Once installed, open the app.
2) Insert MICROSD Card
Plug your SD card into your Mac using a card reader.
The Pi Imager should detect it automatically.
3) Select Operating System
In Raspberry Pi Imager:
Click “Choose OS.”
Scroll to Raspberry Pi OS (other).
Select Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit).
This is the minimal version — perfect for headless servers.
4) Customize the OS Before Flashing
This is the part that makes headless setup easy.
Click the gear icon in the Imager (OS customization).
Turn on:
Set hostname (e.g.,
duffpi)Enable SSH → choose “Use password authentication”
Set username and password
Scroll down to Configure wireless LAN
Enter your Wi-Fi name (SSID)
Enter Wi-Fi password
Select country (important — otherwise Wi-Fi won’t work)
Optional but recommended:
Set locale + timezone
Turn on “Skip first-run wizard”
Click Save.
5) Choose Storage & Flash the SD Card
Back in the main Imager window:
Click “Choose Storage”
Select your microSD card
Click “Write”
This process takes 2–5 minutes.
When it’s done, eject the SD card.
6) Boot Your Raspberry Pi
Insert the microSD into your Raspberry Pi
Plug in the power
That’s it — the Pi will:
Boot
Connect to your Wi-Fi
Enable SSH
Register its hostname
…all automatically.
7) Find Your Raspberry Pi’s IP Address
You can connect in two ways:
Method 1: Using Hostname
Try this first. In Terminal on your Mac:
ping duffpi.local
(Replace
duffpiwith the hostname you chose.)If you see replies, your Pi is online.
Method 2: Scan Your Network
Run in Terminal:
arp -a
Look for a hostname containing raspberrypi or the MAC vendor “Raspberry Pi Trading Ltd”.
Or use:
nmap -sn 192.168.0.0/24
(Replace 192.168.0 with your network’s first three numbers.)
8) Connect to the Raspberry Pi via SSH
Once you know the IP or hostname, run:
ssh username@duffpi.local
// OR //
ssh username@192.168.x.x
Type the password you set in the Pi Imager.
If you see:
If you see:
username@raspberrypi:~ $
You’re in. This is your Pi’s command line.
9) Update Your System (Important)
Run these commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo reboot
After the reboot, SSH back in the same way.
Your Pi is now fully set up and ready.